FOREST, Va. --- Randolph-Macon College not only increased its streak of ODAC titles to four consecutive trophies this season, but RMC also increased its haul of all-conference plaudits with a league-high 17 Yellow Jackets highlight the 2025 All-ODAC Football Awards. Washington and Lee University saw 13 Generals among the list's population with Hampden-Sydney College joining RMC and WLU in double figures with 12 Tigers on the chart.

Four schools saw athletes garner special individual honors from the league's head coaches. Randolph-Macon linebacker Daniel Eliasek was tabbed the Lou Wacker Defensive Player of the Year, while RMC mentor Pedro Arruza received ODAC Coach of the Year laurels from his peers and Yellow Jackets' quarterback Dante Casciola was recognized as the ODAC/Virginia Farm Bureau Insurance Scholar-Athlete of the Year the by league's athletic communications personnel. Hampden-Sydney receiver Mason Cunningham garnered J. Stokely Fulton Offensive Player of the Year honors, while Shenandoah University quarterback Mekhi Brown collected ODAC Rookie of the Year distinction. Washington and Lee offensive lineman Wesleyan Hownestein is the recipient of the inaugural ODAC Lineman of the Year award.

The majority of the 70 recognized stars are seeing their name in lights for the first time with just 16 standouts appearing on an all-conference team for a second straight season.

Offensively, seven players earned awards last season including four members of this year's All-ODAC First Team. RMC tight end Landon Farriss and lineman Myles Bridges repeat as first team picks, while the H-SC backfield duo of quarterback Carter Sido and running back Terry Hicks made the leap from last year's All-ODAC Third Team.

Shenandoah back Jalen Redfearn is an All-ODAC Second Team choice after picking up first team laurels last season. Tigers' receiver Manning Lasso repeats as a second team selection, while Casciola moved up from the 2024 third team to the second team.

On defense, nine players appear on a second straight All-ODAC squad including four members of this year's first team. Eliasek and the SU pair of linebacker Matt Conroy and defensive back Sean Perry are all first team selections again, while Bridgewater College lineman Andrew Brown jumps up from the 2024 third team.

Four repeat honorees are on the second team including former first team choices Tristan Bailey (DB) from Guilford College and linebacker Will Mahmud from WLU. H-SC linebacker Robert Clarke is a repeat second teamer, while RMC defensive back Quentin Mankin moves up from the third team.

Washington and Lee defensive back Jack Johnson appears on the 2025 third team after earning first team honors last season.

Cunningham's return to peak form is an impressive feat after recovering from a season-ending injury during the 2024 preseason. The now three-time All-ODAC honoree led the ODAC in receiving yards (869) and finished second in receptions (47). His 11 receiving touchdowns are the most for a conference pass-catcher and second-most in the league behind teammate Hicks.

Eliasek spearheads a stout Randolph-Macon defense that has allowed only 125 points (12.5/game), 87 points fewer than the second-best total. RMC also led the league in turnovers with 19 interceptions and 11 fumble recoveries. Eliasek leads Randolph-Macon with 60 tackles (17 solo) and is tied for first in the league with three forced fumbles. He has four passes defended including one interception.

Howenstein is the first recipient of the ODAC Lineman of the Year award, which is designed to honor an offensive or defensive lineman on the All-ODAC First Team. Howenstein helped pave the way for the ODAC’s top rushing offense, a unit that averaged 316.9 yards per game and posted 3,486 yards and 37 touchdowns on the ground. In the passing game, WLU quarterbacks were sacked only four times.

Arruza enjoys his sixth ODAC top-coaching award joining honors he received in 2008, 2016, 2018, 2021 (spring), and 2023. In his 22nd season, Arruza owns a 156-72 (.684) career record as the Yellow Jackets prepare for Division III second round action at John Carroll University on Saturday.

Brown changed the Shenandoah offense after his introduction in the Hornets’ fourth game of the season. He led the ODAC in completion percentage (71.1%), completing 138 of 194 passes for 1,612 yards and 18 touchdowns against six interceptions. He posted a 165.4 efficiency rating, second-best in the league.

Casciola stars both on and off the field for the Yellow Jackets. A dual-threat quarterback, Casciola has run for 322 yards and eight touchdowns and thrown for 895 yards and eight more scores with just two interceptions on 75-of-116 passing. In the classroom, Casciola maintains a 3.84 grade point average as an economics major with an accounting minor. The perennial RMC Dean’s List honoree is the recipient of both the Randolph-Macon President’s Scholarship and the YJ Connect Scholarship. Casciola, a team captain, is also active in his communities with organizations including Rise Against Hunger and Macon Make a Difference Day.

2025 ALL-ODAC FOOTBALL AWARDS
J. Stokeley Fulton Offensive Player of the Year: Mason Cunningham, Sr., WR, Hampden-Sydney
Lou Wacker Defensive Player of the Year: Daniel Eliasek, Sr., LB, Randolph-Macon
ODAC Lineman of the Year: Wesleyan Howenstein, Jr., OL, Washington and Lee
ODAC Coach of the Year: Pedro Arruza, Randolph-Macon
ODAC Rookie of the Year: Mekhi Brown, Fy., QB, Shenandoah
ODAC/Va. Farm Bureau Insurance Scholar-Athlete: Dante Casciola, Sr., QB, Randolph-Macon
 

ALL-ODAC FIRST TEAM OFFENSE					ALL-ODAC FIRST TEAM DEFENSE
Carter Sido +	Sr.	QB	Hampden-Sydney		Andrew Brown +	Sr.	DL	Bridgewater
Terry Hicks +	Jr.	RB	Hampden-Sydney		Travis Burton	So.	DL	Guilford
Mitchell Johnson	Sr.	RB	Randolph-Macon		Brady Kinloch	Sr.	DL	Randolph-Macon
Joseph Gonzalez	Sr.	APB	Hampden-Sydney		Will Knight	Sr.	DL	Washington and Lee
Ian Browne	Sr.	WR	Bridgewater		Aaron Nice	Sr.	LB	Bridgewater
Mason Cunningham	Sr.	WR	Hampden-Sydney		Daniel Eliasek *	Sr.	LB	Randolph-Macon
Landon Farriss *	Sr.	TE	Randolph-Macon		Charlie Davis	So.	LB	Roanoke
Cash Topinka	So.	OL	Hampden-Sydney		Matt Conroy *	Sr.	LB	Shenandoah
Myles Bridges *	Jr.	OL	Randolph-Macon		Parks Cromwell	So.	DB	Hampden-Sydney
Chop Deaver	Jr.	OL	Randolph-Macon		Kindin Richardson	Sr.	DB	Randolph-Macon
Andy Anderson	Sr.	OL	Shenandoah		Javier Waldron	So.	DB	Roanoke
Wesley Howenstein	Jr.	OL	Washington and Lee		Sean Perry *	Gr.	DB	Shenandoah
Agustin Miguel	Jr.	PK	Bridgewater		Aiden Grefe	Jr.	P	Bridgewater
ALL-ODAC SECOND TEAM OFFENSE					ALL-ODAC SECOND TEAM DEFENSE
Dante Casciola +	Sr.	QB	Randolph-Macon		Tim Semisch	So.	DL	Randolph-Macon
Cameron Chatmon	Sr.	RB	Randolph-Macon		Gavin Thompson	So.	DL	Roanoke
Ryan Clemens	Fy.	RB	Washington and Lee		Ryan Apietu	So.	DL	Shenandoah
Jalen Redfearn *	Sr.	APB	Shenandoah		Malik Hardy	Sr.	DL	Washington and Lee
Manning Lasso ^	So.	WR	Hampden-Sydney		Nick Iannone	Sr.	LB	Guilford
Roge’t Walker	So.	WR	Shenandoah		Robert Clarke ^	Sr.	LB	Hampden-Sydney
Teddy Sparrow	Jr.	TE	Washington and Lee		Will Mahmud *	Sr.	LB	Washington and Lee
Thomas Wilson	So.	OL	Hampden-Sydney		Brennan Stout	So.	LB	Washington and Lee
Nate Johnson	So.	OL	Roanoke		Tristan Bailey *	Sr.	DB	Guilford
AJ Evans-Jones	So.	OL	Randolph-Macon		Christian Daniel	Jr.	DB	Randolph-Macon
Cailen Graham	Sr.	OL	Washington and Lee		Quentin Mankin +	Jr.	DB	Randolph-Macon
Tucker Jacobsen	Sr.	OL	Washington and Lee		Alan Haigler	Sr.	DB	Washington and Lee
Carson Gallant	So.	PK	Shenandoah		Zach Nicklas	So.	P	Roanoke
ALL-ODAC THIRD TEAM OFFENSE (AT-LARGE SELECTION)					ALL-ODAC THIRD TEAM DEFENSE (AT-LARGE SELECTION)
Kam Hill	Jr.	QB	Roanoke		Shalin Green	Sr.	DL	Bridgewater
Mekhi Brown	Fy.	QB	Shenandoah		Wyatt Croson	Sr.	DL	Hampden-Sydney
Ty Collins	Jr.	QB	Washington and Lee		Phoenix Andes-Stowell	So.	DL	Shenandoah
Jason Moore	Sr.	APB	Randolph-Macon		Neftali Reyes	Sr.	LB	Randolph-Macon
KJ Bratton	Jr.	APB	Roanoke		Brandon Watson	Sr.	LB	Randolph-Macon
Joseph Pizzo	So.	APB	Washington and Lee		Elijah Choy	Sr.	DB	Bridgewater
Shane Shapiro	Jr.	WR	Guilford		James Townsend	Sr.	DB	Hampden-Sydney
Grey Deal	So.	WR	Roanoke		Alex Biddle	Sr.	DB	Randolph-Macon
Kam Mahoney	So.	TE	Hampden-Sydney		Jack Johnson *	Sr.	DB	Washington and Lee
* 2024 All-ODAC First Team (3) ^ 2024 All-ODAC Second Team (1) + 2024 All-ODAC Third Team (3)					* 2024 All-ODAC First Team (6) ^ 2024 All-ODAC Second Team (1) + 2024 All-ODAC Third Team (2)